Faith Nyasuguta
Tanzania has imposed an immediate ban on all agricultural imports from South Africa and Malawi after both countries failed to lift trade restrictions on Tanzanian products. The announcement, made late Wednesday by Minister for Agriculture Hussein Bashe, comes amid rising trade tensions and a perceived lack of reciprocity in regional commerce.
“We cannot continue to tolerate this unfair treatment. While negotiations are ongoing, we must act in defence of our economic interests,” Bashe said during a televised address from Dodoma.
Under the new directive, Tanzania will no longer allow the importation of fresh apples from South Africa, in addition to enforcing a blanket ban on any agricultural goods from both countries. This includes produce in transit through Tanzania. The Minister made it clear that cargo from Malawi and South Africa, including maize purchased for humanitarian use, will not be allowed to leave Tanzanian soil.
“In regards to Malawi, since they have not withdrawn the notice restricting Tanzanian imports, we are officially banning all agricultural products originating from Malawi from entering our country,” Bashe declared.
The decision follows restrictions introduced by South Africa and Malawi on a wide range of Tanzanian farm products including rice, flour, ginger, banana and maize. South Africa has reportedly cited phytosanitary concerns as the reason for limiting Tanzanian banana imports, while Malawi’s restrictions are linked to internal trade protection policies.
Tanzanian authorities, however, view these actions as discriminatory and a violation of regional trade agreements, particularly those under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC).
Bashe further stated, “Malawi was scheduled to begin collecting fertiliser from Tanzania for their planting season starting May 1, 2025. That will not happen. No fertiliser will be allowed to cross into Malawi.”
He reassured citizens that the decision would not harm the country’s food security or supply. “No Tanzanian will die for lack of grapes or South African apples. This is a matter of protecting our business. This is trade, and mutual respect is non-negotiable,” he said firmly.
The economic stakes are high. In 2023 alone, Tanzania exported agricultural goods worth over $64 million to Malawi and more than $1.1 billion to South Africa. The abrupt ban is expected to severely impact trade flows and could trigger food price hikes in both affected countries. Tanzanian exporters, particularly those dealing in horticultural produce, may also suffer financial setbacks due to halted operations.
Beyond economic concerns, the diplomatic fallout could be significant. Some analysts argue that this bold move could mark the beginning of a more assertive trade policy from Tanzania, reflecting growing frustration with regional trade imbalances.
Efforts to de-escalate the conflict are ongoing, but progress appears slow. With both sides standing firm, Tanzania’s government insists that the embargo will not be lifted until their counterparts in Malawi and South Africa remove restrictions on Tanzanian agricultural exports.
Regional blocs such as the SADC and EAC are expected to step in as potential mediators, though it remains unclear how quickly any resolution might be reached. For now, Tanzania is holding its ground, and the message from Dodoma is clear: mutual respect and fairness in trade are non-negotiable.
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